Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Romans 11:11-12 (NLT)
Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! ...
...
Romans 11:29,32 (NLT)
For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

- This long discourse has been explaining the mystery of why some within Israel were responding to Paul's message, while others were very hostile. And meanwhile the "outsiders" - the Gentiles, were responding.

This made no sense to a mind steeped in Jewish faith and teaching, if they clung to rightness with God based on a contractual, performance-based approach.

But to anyone, Jew or Outsider, who 'got' the concept of being made right with God by faith in God's love and his desire to save us, the Message was being received with great joy.

To say (from this passage) that some are predestined by God for destruction, leaves out Paul's conclusions about the ongoing call of God and other verses in the bible about God's intent that not one of his children be lost.

Romans 11:34-35 (NLT)
For who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? [35] And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?

- A final reminder of the correct perspective in all things theological.

Romans 11:36 (NLT)
For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

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